While Whitney lost her life far too early, at the young age of 48, Cissy believes that the icon, “accomplished a whole lot in the short time that she had here,” as she said in an interview in Newark, N.J., via the Huffington Post.

The 78-year-old mother also spoke what “a wonderful person” Whitney was while out on Thursday at the New Hope Baptist Church, where the legendary singer’s funeral was held on Feb. 18.